L
MARK BLACKWELL
iving in the country, a person learns that there are things that can be put off and there are things that necessitate immediate attention. You can put off painting the chicken coop for a while but if the chickens start disappearing, then you must take action and stick with it until the threat is dealt with. In the case of disappearing domestic fowl, it is usually a predator like a weasel, raccoon, or hawk. First you must identify the offender, then find out how he, she, or it is getting to the chickens. That takes patience and diligence. You can’t just run off to the movies or down to the tavern. You have to stay home and plug the hole in the coop. That’s where we are with this COVID-19 stuff. We have all been inside for a while now, and we might have a ways to go, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream a little and get ready. One thing about Brown County is its ability to inspire. I imagine that a lot of folks can’t really say what it is about the county that draws them here. I believe that it is the inspiration to appreciate nature with a more artful approach to life. A good place to start might be to ask, “What makes Brown County a special place?”
48 Our Brown County • May/June 2020
The first thing that jumps to my mind is the scenery: the hills crowned with trees and veiled in early morning mist; or a winding path through the forest that beckons with the promise of a glimpse of Trout Lilies or morel mushrooms. It could be a fragrant, freshly mown backroads field of hay on a sunny afternoon. Artists discovered our county’s scenic charms over a hundred years ago. It was back in the summer of 1900, when a Chicago newspaper printed an article praising the natural beauty of Brown County. An artist named Adolph Shulz read the article and came down to see it for himself. He was entranced, sent word out to his fellow artists, and started the art colony. Painters came from all over to capture Brown County on canvas. Another Brown County inspiration is craftwork. The first settlers had to be self-reliant and talented enough to make useful items. They made it all—from cabins to cabinets, dishes to furniture, and everything in between. Today, the county is home to weavers, potters, stained glass artists, quilters, blacksmiths, and woodworkers. These are the people who are inspired to work with their hands to create beautiful useful objects. When you wrap yourself in a handwoven shawl or
